Influence of colour and age on the thickness and medullation characteristics of wool Huacaya alpacas maintained in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the thickness and medullation of Huacaya alpaca fibre depending on the colour of the wool and the age of the animal. The analyses were conducted on 30 females with ages of under 1 year (12), from 1 to 4 years (6), and over 4 years (12). There were individuals with white (12) and brown (18) wool in all age groups. The animals were maintained in the same conditions; they were fed hay and concentrate feed throughout the whole year, with permanent access to water, and in the spring and summer periods, they were also fed grass. The fibre diameter and medullation were measured using a projection microscope according to the IWTO-8-2011 standard. The analysis showed no significant effect of the wool colour variety on the average fibre diameter and the degree of medullation, in contrast to the age. The average fibre diameter and fibre medullation percentage were lower in alpacas up to 1 year old (P<0.05) than in alpacas aged 1 to 4 years and over 4 years old. All types of fibres (non-medullated, with continuous and discontinuous medullas) were present in the wool of the examined alpacas, regardless of the thickness and/or colour of the wool and the age of the animals.